Kuwaiti authorities have uncovered a large-scale citizenship fraud involving 164 individuals who unlawfully held Kuwaiti nationality for years. The discovery is part of a nationwide effort to address forgery and safeguard the country’s national identity.
How the Fraud Was Uncovered
The case came to light after a tip-off led the Kuwaiti Nationality Investigation Department to scrutinize a citizen who had obtained Kuwaiti nationality in the 1960s. Although the individual legally acquired his citizenship, further investigation revealed that he had fraudulently registered three of his brothers—then nationals of another Gulf country—as his children.
The forgery extended further when it was discovered that one of the three falsely registered "siblings" had, in turn, fraudulently registered 43 individuals as his children, most of whom were not biologically related to him.
DNA testing confirmed the lack of familial connections, leading authorities to revoke the citizenships of the three brothers and their descendants. In total, 164 individuals, including children and grandchildren, lost their Kuwaiti nationality as a result of the investigation.
Broader Crackdown on Citizenship Fraud
The incident is part of a larger campaign by Kuwait to combat forgery and dual citizenship. Last week, the country’s supreme committee for nationality verification decided to revoke Kuwaiti citizenship from 3,043 individuals for various reasons, including fraud and holding prohibited dual nationalities.
Since March, authorities have stripped thousands of individuals of their citizenship. The decision to revoke nationality is reviewed by the Council of Ministers for final approval.
Protecting National Identity
Kuwait, with a population of approximately 4.9 million—mostly expatriates—has intensified its efforts to protect its national identity. Authorities are cracking down on fraudulent citizenship claims and dual nationality, which are prohibited under Kuwaiti law.
The latest revelations highlight the sophisticated methods used in citizenship fraud, including false registrations spanning multiple generations. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the original citizen involved in the case holds any other prohibited nationality.
The government’s efforts aim to ensure that Kuwaiti citizenship is preserved for those who are genuinely entitled to it, reinforcing national integrity and maintaining transparency in the country's population records.
